Sports coaches say they lack knowledge to train female athletes properly
A survey of nearly 800 coaches in Scandinavia reveals a stark gap: most recognize that female biology and hormonal health are crucial to coaching success, yet report feeling unprepared to address these issues. The finding has implications for athlete performance, retention, and liability—and points to a lucrative gap in coach education and training products.
Originaltitel: Perceived importance and self-evaluations of female-specific knowledge: current insights into sports coaching of female athletes
<p>Female athletes encounter biological challenges, such as puberty and hormonal health, embedded within psychosocial coaching environments. Despite their relevance, these topics remain insufficiently integrated into coach education programmes. This study surveyed 779 coaches in Norway and Sweden to examine perceived knowledge versus the importance of female-specific topics through a biopsychosocial perspective. Results revealed a consistent discrepancy: coaches rated these topics as highly important but reported limited knowledge. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct profiles: “High-Performance but Resource-Limited”, “Aware but Underprepared”, and “Confident but Unaware,” with no significant differences based on coach sex or education. Across profiles, coaches reported limited resource access and a strong need for education regarding how these factors impact communication, training, and well-being. These findings indicate persistent gaps in coach preparedness, highlighting the need for context-sensitive education. Integrating biologically grounded content within a biopsychosocial perspective may strengthen coaching practice and thus enhance female athletes´ long-term development.</p>